Occupational Therapy (OT) for Children and Adults in Brisbane

An occupational therapist, or OT, helps people do the everyday things they need and want to do. For a child, that might be holding a pencil, getting dressed, coping in a busy classroom or joining in at play. For an adult, it might be cooking, managing at home after an injury, or getting out into the community. An OT works out what makes these tasks hard, then builds skills, changes how the task is done, or recommends equipment or changes at home.

No. You can book with us directly by phone, email or our contact form, without a referral. If you're a support coordinator, teacher or health professional referring someone to us, our referral form lets you send their details and the reason for the referral, and we'll be in touch with the family. If you or your child already have reports from a paediatrician, a previous therapist or school, bring them to your first appointment. They help us build a full picture and plan the assessment.

The first appointment is an assessment. Your OT will ask about your goals, your or your child's history, and what a normal day looks like, and look at any reports you bring. For young children, much of the assessment happens through play. Depending on the concern, the OT may watch everyday tasks such as writing, dressing or moving around, and may use standard assessments. At the end, we talk through what we found and suggest next steps, including goals and how often sessions could run.

Occupational therapy can be funded by the NDIS when it relates to the goals in a participant's plan. It is usually paid for from the Capacity Building budget, under Improved Daily Living, while higher-cost equipment and home modifications come from the Capital budget. As a registered NDIS provider, we can work with participants whose plans are self-managed, plan-managed or NDIA-managed. If you're not sure what your plan covers, your support coordinator or plan manager can check, and you're welcome to call us to talk it through before you book.

Our fees follow the NDIS price limits for therapy, which are set for each financial year. Clients without NDIS funding are welcome and pay the same rates. The total cost depends on how often you have sessions and how long they run, which we agree with you after the assessment. For NDIS participants, sessions are claimed from your plan's funding. Contact us before you book and we'll tell you the current rate and what it includes, so there are no surprises.

Yes. As well as seeing clients at our clinic in Runcorn, our OT team visits homes, schools and kindies across Brisbane's southside, including Logan, Underwood, Springwood, Woodridge, Inala, Stretton, Calamvale, Browns Plains and Acacia Ridge. Working where the everyday tasks happen lets us see what gets in the way, practise skills in real situations, and work with family, teachers and educators. Tell us where you'd like sessions to happen when you get in touch, and we'll confirm what we can offer in your area.

We see children from age 2. Every child develops at their own pace, but some signs are worth checking with an OT: finding it hard to hold a pencil or use scissors, trouble getting dressed or managing self-care, strong reactions to noise, touch or busy places, difficulty following routines, or falling behind in the physical side of play and school. Our article on how occupational therapy builds school readiness explains some of these skills. If you're unsure, an assessment can tell you whether OT would help and what to focus on first.

Yes. Our OT team works with children and adults on the autism spectrum on sensory processing, daily living skills, fine motor skills and taking part at home, school and in the community. Because our team also includes speech pathology and behaviour support, we can coordinate OT goals with any other support your child receives. Sessions can take place at our clinic, at home, or at kindy or school, where many everyday challenges show up. Our autism support page explains how our team works together.

Yes. Our OT team works with adults as well as children, including people living with a physical disability, a brain injury, a spinal cord injury, a mental health condition, or after a stroke. Support can include daily living skills, equipment, changes at home and getting out into the community. Sessions can take place at our Runcorn clinic or at home. Adults with an NDIS plan can usually use their Capacity Building funding for therapy, and private clients are welcome.

Yes. Our OT team assesses and prescribes equipment that supports independence, and recommends changes such as grab rails, ramps and bathroom adjustments. For NDIS participants, higher-cost equipment and home modifications are funded from the Capital budget, and the NDIS may ask for specific assessments and quotes before approving them. Equipment and changes work best when they fit the person and the space, which is why home visits are often part of this work. Let us know what you need when you get in touch and we'll explain the steps.

Yes. Our team includes occupational therapists, speech pathologists and behaviour support practitioners, so a child who needs more than one kind of therapy can be seen in one place. OT and speech therapy often work on related skills, such as communicating during play, following daily routines, or the fine motor skills needed for writing, so having both in one team makes it easier to set shared goals. Let us know when you get in touch if you think your child may need both.